The spectacular “new” Lamborghini Diablo seduces us into devil worship
We understand the restomod phenomenon. You want the looks of a classic but not the outdated tech and driving experience, so opt for a modernized example, like this amazing Lamborghini Diablo from Eccentrica.
The Lamborghini Diablo was the successor to the legendary Countach in the 1990s. It had a difficult history, because in 1987 Chrysler – then the new owner of Lamborghini – was not happy with the design of master designer Marcello Gandini.
Lamborghini Diablo signed in Detroit
The final production version of the Diablo was drawn in nondescript Detroit by Chrysler designer Tom Gale. Gandini used his original design on the Cizeta-Moroder V16T, of which only a handful were built.
In the rear of the “normal” Diablo is a 5.7-liter V12 with 492 hp. Later there were more powerful versions with 530 and even 603 hp. In 1999 the pop-up headlights of the first model had to give way to the light units of the Nissan 300ZX. A black stripe above it hides the Nissan logo.
Developed by the Lamborghini collector
Unlike the Countach LPI 800-4 from 2021, this restomod does not come from Lamborghini itself, but is the product of an Italian company: Eccentrica. It was founded by Italian interior designer and Lamborghini collector Emanuel Colombini.
He has gathered good people around him as his partner Carlo Borromeo is the designer behind Nardone Automotive’s amazing Porsche 928 and Automobili Amos’ Lancia Delta.
Based on a model with pop-up headlights
The Eccentrica Diablo is based on an early model, i.e. still with pop-up headlights. The latter were replaced by LED lighting, and all sorts of changes were also made to the bumpers, side skirts, hood and tail.
For the rest, it’s better to list what hasn’t changed, because if you look closely, Eccentrica has tinkered with all the external features. The whole thing looks nice and brutal, although we’re not entirely convinced by the 19-inch alloy wheels, which look a bit cheap.
Fully digital dashboard with 80s graphics
In the cabin, old Diablo isn’t even recognizable anymore. The entire dashboard has been revised. Very nice are the digital gauges, which are clearly drizzled with an 80’s sauce. There is little plastic in the new Lambo, but lots of Alcantara, aluminium, carbon and leather.
Atmospheric V12 with now 550 hp and 600 Nm
The power source on the back of the Eccentrica is basically the same as the original. Thanks to technical adjustments to valves and camshafts, the 5.7-liter V12 now delivers 550 hp and 600 Nm.
Only nineteen examples will be made of this 335 km/h fast Lamborghini Diablo, which sprints to 100 km/h in 3.5 seconds. A used Diablo from the 1990s costs between 250,000 and 450,000 euros. The Eccentrica costs at least 1.2 million euros.